Box Scores
W 6-1
L 6-3

EAST STROUDSBURG - Sophomore right-hander Evan Steele, redshirt senior left-hander Mike Pepio and sophomore outfielder Carson Freeman led East Stroudsburg University to a 6-1 win in the opener at East Stroudsburg University split a PSAC East doubleheader at Kutztown on Friday afternoon.

Steele allowed just an unearned run and struck out 10 in 5.2 innings, Pepio got out of a bases-loaded jam with two outs in the sixth and Freeman was 3-for-4 with a double, triple, RBI and three runs for ESU (16-13, 5-7), which hosts Kutztown (12-12, 6-8) in the second half of this weekend's series on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mitterling Field.

Kutztown scored five runs on two hits, two hit batters, a walk, a balk and an error in the bottom of the sixth inning in the nightcap after ESU had staked itself to a 3-1 lead.

Redshirt freshman Nate Fiala, in his first career start after 12 relief appearances this spring, yielded an unearned run on two hits, a walk and a hit batter in the first 5.0 innings before Kutztown pushed ahead in the sixth.

Three Warriors had three hits in the twinbill - Freeman (3-for-8, double, triple, RBI, 4 runs), senior C Steven Zimmerman, Jr. (3-for-6, double, walk, HBP, 3 RBI, 2 runs) and freshman 3B Brock Kauffman (3-for-6, sacrifice fly, RBI).

Zimmerman set ESU's career hit by pitch record (34), breaking the mark of 33 set by All-Region outfielder Kevin Thompson (2005-09). Zimmerman broke the school home run record, currently 21, last weekend. He has been hit nine times through 29 games this season.

Ryan Cox (5-for-7, double, RBI, 2 runs) and Nick Lafferty (3-for-6, walk, 2 RBI) combined for eight of Kutztown's 10 hits on the afternoon.

ESU handed Kutztown's Michael Hunter, who entered 4-0 with a 1.44 ERA in 25.0 innings, his first loss this season in the opener. Hunter went 5.2 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits with five strikeouts and four walks.

Game 1

Kutztown scored an unearned run off Steele in the bottom of the first and threatened in nearly every inning, but ESU scored two in the third, one in the fifth and added three in the sixth to win the opener.

Steele, who has 50 strikeouts in 34.1 innings this season, struck out the final batter in each of his five completed innings - all with runners on base, three times with multiple runners on base, four times with runners in scoring position and twice with runners on second and third.

He got out of second-and-third situations in both the first and third innings, and got strikeouts with a runner on second in the fourth and fifth.

ESU took a 2-1 lead in the third, starting with one-out singles by freshman 2B Brainy Rojas and Freeman. Zimmerman reached on an error, picking up an RBI, and Kauffman followed with the go-ahead RBI single.

In the fifth, Freeman belted a one-out triple, Zimmerman was hit by a pitch and Freeman scored on a sacrifice fly by Kauffman to make it 3-1.

All three runs in the sixth were scored with two outs, knocking Hunter from the game. Paolini and Rojas drew walks, followed by consecutive RBI doubles by Freeman and Zimmerman, with Rojas scoring in between on a wild pitch.

Pepio entered with a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth after Kutztown had loaded the bases off Steele, getting Cox to ground out to end the threat. He pitched around a leadoff walk in a scoreless seventh for his third save of the season.

Steele finished with 10 strikeouts, four walks, six hits allowed and an unearned run in 5.2 innings.

Freeman had three of ESU's six hits in his first game in the leadoff spot.

Game 2

ESU led 3-1 going to the bottom of the sixth, but Kutztown prevailed to get the split.

Mike Kammerer threw a complete game for KU, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks.

Fiala finished with a line of 5.0 innings (5 runs, 3 earned, 4 hits, 4 strikeouts, 2 walks) and was relieved by Pepio, who faced four batters and got all three outs in the sixth.

Fiala entered as ESU's ERA leader (2.31) with a 4-0 record in 23.1 innings across 12 relief appearances. Pepio appeared in both games and has pitched in 14 of ESU's 29 games (1-2, 3 saves, 2.89 ERA in 28.0 innings).

The Warriors scored twice in the top of the first on an RBI single by Zimmerman, after Freeman reached on an error and stole second, and a sacrifice fly by redshirt junior OF Christian Rishel after a Kauffman single.

Kutztown plated an unearned run in the first, which ESU got back in the third. Zimmerman and Kauffman had one-out singles, Rishel walked and Zimmerman scored on a sacrifice fly by redshirt junior C Mike Sulcoski.

In the Kutztown sixth, leadoff hitter Bo Rottet was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game, Mike Villa walked and Cox had an infield single to load the bases. The runners moved up on a balk with Rottet scoring, and Lafferty followed with a go-ahead two-run single. After Pepio entered, Collin Bishop was hit by a pitch and Ryan Weller reached on an error, scoring two, to make it 6-1.